Rail-spike.



D. W. OBRYAN.

RAIL SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED mm. i916.

1,214,578. Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

'EINITEE gilt DAVID w. OBBYAN, or MOUNT-AUBURN, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-SPIKE.

Specification ofIietters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Application filed January 7, 1916. Serial No. 70,854.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID W. OBRYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Auburn, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail spikes, and has for its principal object to provide a spike which will lock itself against accidental removal from a tie after it has once been driven therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spike which is simple in construction, cheap and easy to manufacture, and which is positive in its locking operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the spike as associated with a tie and rail showing the locking means in operative position; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the spike, showing the position the locking member assumes when the spike is disengaged from the tie; Fig. 3 is a face View of the spike; Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the locking member removed.

Referring to the drawings by numerals wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a railroad rail which is adapted to be fastened to the tie 2 by means of the improved spike 3, the said spike 3 being of the ordinary exterior construction and comprising the pointed shank at and a head 5.

A recess 6 is formed in the inner face of the shank 4 and extends from a point a short distance below the top of the head 5 to a point approximately intermediate the ends of the shank 4:. This recess 6, at its lower end extends entirely through the width of the shank 4.- and at an angle to itself, as indicated at 7, the walls of the recess at the point 7 being curved upwardly and inwardly toward the inner end of the head 5 for a purpose which will presently appear.

Adapted to be inserted within the recess 6 is a locking member 8 which is of slightly less length than the recess 6 and has at its upper end a head 9 which is arranged within the recess and has a portion thereof projecting beyond the inner face of the shank. as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. At its lower end this locking member is provided with an offset portion .10 which is adapted to extend through the opening 7 and which has its upper and lower faces shaped to the angular arrangement of the walls of the opening 7, with which it is adapted to be snugly engaged. Formed upon the inner face of the member 8 adjacent the offset portion 10 is a spur 11 which is adapted to bite into the fibers of the tie when the spike is driven home therein.

A pair of alined openings are formed in the side walls of the spike adjacent the inner edge thereof and through these openings is adapted to be passed a. pin 12 to prevent the accidental removal of the looking member .8 from within the recess 6, the pin 12 being arranged in spaced relation from the inner face of the member 8 so that inward movement of the said member will be permitted when the spike is driven, into the tie.

In operation the pointed end of the spike is positioned adjacent the base flange of the railand the spike driven home in the ordinary manner. The member 8, however, is of slightly less length than the recess 6 so that in driving the spike into engagement with the rail the head 9 of the member 8 will come in contact with the base flange of the rail before the head 5 of the spike proper has been driven into final engagement therewith. Consequently as further driving of the spike takes place to bring the head 5 into engagement with the rail, the angular faces of the offset portion 10 ride against the angular faces of the walls of the opening 7 and force the locking member inwardly, which inward movement will cause the spur 11 to engage with the fibers of the tie and thus securely fasten the spike against accidental removal therefrom.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought that the construction and operation of the improved spike will be clearly understood, and while I have herein shown and described one preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claim may impart.

I claim A. spike including ashank and a head extended from one side thereof at the upper end of the shank, said shank having a longitudinal recess in one side, the lower end of the recess being curved and extended through the shank to the opposite side thereof, the upper end of said recess being turned in the opposite direction and eX tended in the bottom of said head, a locking member including a narrow shank engaged in said recess and provided with the turned pointed upper end to be received in the upper end of said recess, said locking member having an enlarged lower end provided with opposite curved faces adapted to normally engage the curved walls of the lower row shank portion of said locking member to limit transverse movement of the latter within said recess. 7 V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of'two Witnesses.

DAVID W. OBRYAN.

Witnesses ANNA B. ALLEN, WILLIE ALLEN.

(topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

